Simple Q&A (By the RAW) II

[Lord Lorac Silvanos]

A. 097

You only gain 1st level skill points for your first character level/HD.

Skill Points at 1st Level: (X + Int modifier) x 4.

Any additional levels use the additional level skill points.

Skill Points at Each Additional Level: X + Int modifier

[asqwasqw]

Q. 98 If I take another class, will my cross class skills double if they become class skills?

[Douglas]

A98 (please actually check the numbering to help avoid confusion)
No. Skill points only exist during the process of levelling up, and they are converted to skill ranks at that time. The cost of each rank is set at the time it is purchased and cannot be changed retroactively.

The maximum ranks in those skill will double and the price for new ranks will go down to 1 skill point per rank, but you still have to buy the new ranks if you want to take advantage of the new max.

[cupkeyk]

Q 99

What takes precedence when applying Savvy Rogue/Crippling strike on a creature otherwise immune to critical hits/sneak attacks with Telling Blow. Telling blow is triggered by a critical hit while Crippling Strike is triggered by a sneak attack. Does this mean that Telling Blow will not trigger Savvy Rogue/Crippling Strike because the creature will still be immune to critical hits and therefore will not trigger the chain of effects?

[Lord Lorac Silvanos]

A. 099

Yes, without a critical hit you won't gain the benefit of Telling Blow and without the Sneak Attack you do not deal a Crippling Strike.

[RMS Oceanic]

Q. 100

Do enhancement bonuses to armor or shields (like a +2 chain shirt) provide any benefits other than AC or armor check penalty reductions?

[Lord Lorac Silvanos]

A. 100

Yes, at least for shields.
It makes them harder to sunder.

Shield Hardness and Hit Points: Each +1 of enhancement bonus adds 2 to a shield’s hardness and +10 to its hit points.

However, enhancement bonuses do not reduce armor check penalty.
(Masterwork quality or special materials do)

[Shhalahr Windrider]

A 098 Clarification

The most important thing to remember is that ranks are purchased based on the class level you just took. Although having even a single level in a particular class grants all class skills for that class a maximum rank of 3+character level, the cost is still only one skill point per rank when bought with skill points from a class that has that skill as a class skill.

For example, if you are a Rogue 1, you can buy two cross-class ranks in Knowledge (arcana). Your maximum is two ranks. If you were to take another level of Rogue, your maximum rank would go up to two-and-a-half, and you'd still have to spend two skill points to gain a full rank. However, if you took a level of Wizard, your maximum ranks would go up to five, and you could buy ranks on a one-for-one basis, provided those skill points come from a class that has Knowledge (arcana) as a class skill. If, for your third level, you then took another level of Rogue, your maximum ranks in Knowledge (arcana) would go up to six, but you would have to pay two Rogue skill points for every rank in Knowledge (arcana).

So there's another reason existing ranks would remain unaffected by multiclassing.

[Velvet Elvis]

Q 101

The text of the Beguiler's Cloaked Casting ability (PHBII) seems to infer that the DC increase might only apply if the Beguiler casts a spell that specifically and literally targets a particular discrete foe.

Specifically, "...when you cast a spell that targets any foe who would be denied a..."

By precedent, should this be read literally as in "You must specifically target a particular subject directly"?

How does this apply to area of effect spells? Does the subject at the centerpoint of an AoE spell qualify for the DC save increase? What about all others in the AoE?

In addition, the description uses the term "foe," so should that be taken literally to mean that nothing currently considered an ally could be subject to the DC increase? For instance, in a case where an ally is temporarily under the control of an enemy.

[Lord Lorac Silvanos]

A. 101

You need to use a targeted spells for the ability to work.
It does not apply to Area of Effect spells.

AIMING A SPELL

You must make some choice about whom the spell is to affect or where the effect is to originate, depending on the type of spell. The next entry in a spell description defines the spell’s target (or targets), its effect, or its area, as appropriate.

Target or Targets: Some spells have a target or targets. You cast these spells on creatures or objects, as defined by the spell itself. You must be able to see or touch the target, and you must specifically choose that target. You do not have to select your target until you finish casting the spell.

More information can be found in the Magic Overview chapter of the PHB or SRD.



Foe is used loosely to mean anyone, including your own mother, that you consider a foe at the time of casting.

[Velvet Elvis]

Q 101

If, during a combat, Joe, with an initiative of 20, is slept by a sleep spell or effect cast by a Goblin Shaman with an initiative of 15, and two rounds later, roused by Kat, who has an initiative of 1, what is Joe's initiative at that point?

If Joe's initiative becomes 1, but just behind Kat's, does he immediately get to act that round or has his round been lost because he wasn't awakened until after his original initiative count?

[Shhalahr Windrider]

A 101

Sleep does not affect initiative. Joe would retain his initiative of 20.

Note that after the first round of combat, strict round numbering doesn't matter much on a practical level. In this situation, Joe would still have the same number of actions over the combat regardless of when he took those actions. Barring an important event happening between counts 1 and 20, Joe doesn't really "lose" anything.

[Shhalahr Windrider]

A 079
Manual of Planes, p. 61: "Movement is as normal on the Plane of Shadow, but travelers can cover great distances on the corresponding Material Plane by stepping across the Plane of Shadow"

In other words, the 50 miles per hour movement is only relative to the Material Plane. When you are on the Plane of Shadow itself, you move normally in relation to everything else on the Plane of Shadow. So an unencumbered half-elf would still only move 30 ft. per round. But if he were to warp into the Plane of Shadow, move 30 ft. while on that plane, then warp back to the Material Plane, he would arrive back on the Material Plane about 440 ft. from where he left the Material Plane (assuming such warping transfers the half-elf to and from directly corresponding points, such as with the spell shadow walk, but not plane shift, which has a certain margin of error).

[Velvet Elvis]

Q 102

Does a goliath barbarian who takes the level 1 racial substitution level that grants Mountain Rage (Races of Stone) in place of normal barbarian rage, lose the +10' fast movement ability and/or the illiteracy aspect?

I can find no errata on RoS, and there are contradictions in the book.

Of relevance I see this in the intro:

"When you take a substitution level for your class at a given level, you give up the benefits gained at that level for the standard class, and you get the substitution level benefits instead."

Then later it shows what is supposed to be the level progression line that is to replace that of the normal L1 barbarian. In that line, it shows only Mountain Rage 1x/day, and nothing else.

However, later in the goliath section, there are sample characters who are shown to have taken the L1 racial sub level and are also listed as having fast movement and illiteracy.

These samples contradict the statement in the introductory text and the substitution chart, although illiteracy might be reasonably construed as not a benefit, thus not involved in the substitution (moreso since there is no mention of goliath barbarians not being illiterate irrespective of taking the substitution level.)

[marjan]

Q103
In the description of Haste spell it says that you get extra attack with any weapon you are holding. Does this mean if you have two weapons you get extra attack with both of them or just that you can choose to which to apply extra attack. Shortly, which one is correct:
a) normal:
main hand - +1
off-hand - +1
hasted:
main hand - +1/+1
off-hand - +1/+1
or
b)normal:
main hand - +1
off-hand - +1
hasted:
main hand - +1/+1
off-hand - +1

If a) is case how does it work with natural weapons.

[Lord Lorac Silvanos]

A. 102

Errata is clearly needed.

As far as th RAW goes; the actual rules text outweighs the examples you mention and there does not seem to be any contradictions there.

[Lord Lorac Silvanos]

A. 103

b) You may make ONE extra attack with the weapon of your choice.

When making a full attack action, a hasted creature may make one extra attack with any weapon he is holding.

[RMS Oceanic]

Q 103A

What if instead of haste, you instead had two weapons which both had speed? Would that get you the attacks?

[Lord Lorac Silvanos]

A. 103A

The description of Speed (and Haste) is quite clear; Speed effects do not stack, so you won't get the benefit of two extra attacks if you combine two Speed weapons or a Speed weapon and a Haste effect.

Speed: When making a full attack action, the wielder of a speed weapon may make one extra attack with it. The attack uses the wielder’s full base attack bonus, plus any modifiers appropriate to the situation. (This benefit is not cumulative with similar effects, such as a haste spell.)

Multiple haste effects don’t stack.

[Fax Celestis]

Q104 I remember seeing somewhere (I thought it was the paragon classes, but it's not) something that would allow a half-orc or half-elf to qualify for human-only, elf-only, or orc-only (as appropriate) feats, PrCs, et al. Where is it, if it exists?

[Lord Lorac Silvanos]

A. 104

Half-Orcs and Half-Elfs already qualify for "effects" with Orc and Elf prerequisites, respectively.

As described in the Races chapter of the PHB:

Elven Blood: For all effects related to race, a half-elf is considered an elf.

Orc Blood: For all effects related to race, a half-orc is considered an orc.

Qualifying for things with Human as a prerequisite:

The Human Heritage feat from Races of Destiny.

Or the variant rule from the same book (page 150)

[Fax Celestis]

Aha! There it is! Half-Orc Chameleon, here I come!

[Rykaj]

Q 105

Some simple questions regarding grappling.

-A bear attacks someone and hits with his claw. Does he have to use his improved grab ability immediately or get to finish his full attack and resolve the grapple later on?
-The bear succeeds the grapple. How and how often can he injure the opponent?
-How does shooting into a grapple work exactly, with miss chances and everything?

[Dhavaer]

Q106: If a roll that would normally have automatic passes or fails becomes opposed, does it still have the automatic passes and fails? Example: An opposed attack roll, one character has a +21 attack bonus and the other has +10. The character with +21 rolls a 1, the other an 8. Which succeeds?

[marjan]

A105
- He doesn't have to use it but he cannot delay grapple. Meaning if first claw hits and the second doesn't he cannot start grapple.
- He can deal damage with succesful grapple check or by hiting with natural attacks. If he deals damage with oposed grapple cheks he deals unarmed damage.
- You roll randomly to see which one of those engaged in grapple you strike.

[marjan]

A106 Automatic success doesn't work with opsed rolls or checks. In your case the one with +21 attack bonus wins.

[Lapak]

Q107 A ring of sustenance "continually provides its wearer with life-sustaining nourishment", among other things. Does this mean that the wearer does not need to eat? Does not need to drink? Or both? Is the actual effect defined more explicitly anywhere in the RAW?

[Lord Lorac Silvanos]

A. 107

Both.
I do not think it is described in further detail.

[clockwork warrior]

q. 108

the circlet of persuasion says it gives a +3 bonus for charisma based checks, does that include cha. based skills like perform?

[Fax Celestis]

A108 Yes. Skill-checks are ability-based.